by Ben Kane
Stung, Quintus lifted his gladius and ran forward. When he was only a step away, he feinted to the right and then to the left. A backward slash at Fabricius’ head followed, and his father’s response was barely enough to prevent the blow from landing. Quintus crowed with triumph and pushed on, keen to press home his advantage. Surprising him utterly, Fabricius backed away so fast that Quintus overbalanced and fell. As he landed, Fabricius spun round and placed his sword tip at the base of Quintus’ neck. ‘Dead meat,’ he said calmly.
Furious and embarrassed, Quintus got to his feet. Catching sight of Hanno, he scowled. ‘What are you looking at?’ he yelled. ‘Get about your business!’
Ducking his head to conceal his own anger, Hanno headed for the kitchen.
‘Don’t take it out on a slave,’ cried Aurelia. ‘It’s not his fault.’
Quintus glared at his sister.
‘Calm down,’ said Fabricius. ‘You were undone because you were overconfident.’
Now Quintus’ face went beetroot.
‘You did well until then,’ reassured his father. In the background, Atia was nodding in agreement. ‘If you’d just taken your time, I would have had no chance.’ He lifted his left arm and showed Quintus the long bloody graze along the side of his chest. ‘Even a scratch like this slows a man right down. Remember that.’
Pleased, Quintus smiled. ‘I will, Father.’
At that moment, Hanno emerged with a polished bronze tray. Perched upon it were a fine glass jug and four cups of the same style. Seeing him, Quintus beckoned peremptorily. ‘Get over here! I’m thirsty.’
Arrogant little shit, thought Hanno as he hurried to obey.
Fabricius waited until the whole family had a drink before raising his cup. ‘A toast! To Mars, the god of war. That his shield always remains over us both.’
Hanno blocked out the words as best he could and prayed silently to his own martial god. Baal Saphon, guide Hannibal’s army to victory over Saguntum. And Rome.
Gulping down his juice, Fabricius indicated that Hanno should pour him a refill. He frowned in recognition. ‘Fully recovered?’
‘Very nearly, master,’ Hanno replied.
‘Good.’
‘I was impressed to find Aurelia checking up on his progress,’ Atia added. ‘He’s not up to field work yet, but I didn’t see any reason why Julius couldn’t put him to use in the kitchen.’
‘Fair enough. He’s ready to go back to his cell then.’ Aurelia’s mouth opened in protest, and Fabricius raised a hand. ‘He’s not a horse,’ he said sternly. ‘That stable is needed. His manacles should be replaced too.’ Seeing the apprehension in Hanno’s face, Fabricius’ face softened. ‘Obey orders, and Agesandros will not lay a hand on you. You have my word on that.’
Hanno muttered his thanks, but his mind was racing. Despite Fabricius’ reassurance, his troubles were far from over. Agesandros would undoubtedly be holding a grudge against him. He would constantly have to be on his guard. Without thinking, Hanno remained where he was, close to the family.
An instant later, Quintus turned and their eyes met. I’d love to take you on in a swordfight, thought Hanno. Teach you a lesson. Almost as if he understood, Quintus’ top lip curled. ‘What are you still doing here? Get back to the kitchen.’
Hanno quickly retreated. He was grateful for the smile Aurelia threw in his direction.
The conversation resumed behind him.
‘Can we practise again tomorrow, Father?’ Quintus’ voice was eager.
‘The enthusiasm of youth!’ Touching his side, Fabricius grimaced. ‘I doubt that my ribs would permit it. But I can’t anyway.’
‘Why not?’ Quintus cried.
‘I must travel to Rome. The Senate is meeting to consider how it will respond when Saguntum falls. I want to hear for myself what they plan.’
War, thought Hanno fervently. I hope they decide on war. Because that’s what they’re going to get in any case.
Quintus was crestfallen, but he didn’t argue further. ‘How long will you be gone?’
‘At least ten days. Maybe more. It depends on the success of my other mission,’ Fabricius replied. He fixed Aurelia with his grey eyes. ‘To find a suitable husband for you.’
Aurelia paled, but she did not look away. ‘I see. I’m not to be allowed to fall in love as you and Mother did, then?’
‘You’ll do as you’re damn well told!’ Fabricius snapped.
Atia flushed and looked down.
‘Never mind, children,’ intervened Atia in a brisk tone. ‘It will be an opportunity for both of you to catch up on your studies. Quintus, the tutor reports that your grasp of geometry is not what it should be.’
Quintus groaned.
Atia turned to Aurelia. ‘Don’t think that you’re going to escape either.’
Even as she scowled, Aurelia was struck by an idea. Her heart leaped at its brilliance. If she could pull it off, neither of them would care about extra lessons. And it would help her not to think about her father’s quest.
Like all the best plans, Aurelia’s was simple. She wasn’t sure if Quintus would go along with it, however, so she said nothing until their father had been gone for several days. By then, her brother’s frustration at not being able to do any weapons training was reaching new highs. Aurelia picked her moment carefully, waiting until her mother was occupied with the household accounts. Quintus’ morning lessons had ended a short time before, and she found him pacing around the fountain in the centre of the courtyard, angrily scuffing his sandals along the mosaic.
‘What’s wrong?’
He glanced at her, scowling. ‘Nothing, apart from the fact that I’ve had to spend two hours trying to calculate the volume of a cylinder. It’s impossible! And it’s not as if I’ll ever use the method again. Typical bloody Greeks for discovering how to work out something so stupid in the first place.’
Aurelia made a sympathetic noise. She wasn’t fond of the subject either. ‘I was wondering …’ she began. Deliberately, she did not continue.
‘What?’ Quintus demanded.
‘Oh, it’s nothing,’ she replied. ‘Just a silly idea.’
The first trace of interest crossed Quintus’ face. ‘Tell me.’
‘You’ve been complaining a lot about Father being away.’
He gave an irritable nod. ‘Yes, because I can’t practise my sword play.’
Aurelia smiled impishly. ‘There might be a way around that.’
Quintus’ look was pitying. ‘Riding to Capua and back to train with Gaius each day isn’t an option. It would take far too long.’
‘That’s not what I’ve got in mind.’ Aurelia found herself hesitating. Say it! she thought. You’ve got nothing to lose. ‘I could be your sparring partner.’
‘Eh?’ His eyebrows rose in shock. ‘But you’ve never used a sword before.’
‘I learn fast,’ Aurelia shot back. ‘You said so yourself when you taught me to use a sling.’ She held her breath, praying that he would agree.
A slow grin spread across Quintus’ face. ‘We could go “for a walk” up to the woods, to the place where I train.’
‘That’s exactly what I was thinking,’ cried Aurelia delightedly. ‘Mother doesn’t mind what we do as long as all of our homework is done, and our duties are completed.’
A frown creased his brow. ‘What’s in it for you? You’ll never be able to do it again once you’re …’ He gave her a guilty look.
‘That’s precisely why,’ Aurelia said fervently. ‘I’ll be married off within the year, most likely. Then I’ll have to resign myself to childminding and running a household for the rest of my life. What an opportunity to forget that fate!’
‘Mother will kill you if she finds out,’ Quintus warned.
Aurelia’s eyes flashed. ‘I’ll face that day if, or when, it comes.’
Quintus saw his sister’s resolve, and nodded. In truth, he felt glad to be able to help her, even if it would only be a temporary affair. He wouldn’t
want the future she’d painted. ‘Very well.’
Aurelia stepped in to kiss his cheek. ‘Thank you. It means a lot to me.’
The moment that their tasks were done the following day, they met up in the atrium. Quintus slung an old sack over his shoulder; within were two of the wooden gladii, as well as a few snares. The latter could be pulled out in the event of any awkward questions from their mother. ‘Ready?’ Aurelia whispered excitedly.
He nodded.
They had gone a dozen steps when Atia appeared from the tablinum, a roll of parchment in one hand. She threw them a curious glance. ‘Where are you two going?’
‘For a walk,’ Aurelia replied lightly. She lifted the wicker basket in her right hand. ‘I thought you might like some mushrooms.’
‘I need to set some traps as well,’ Quintus added. He tapped his bow. ‘This is in case I see a deer.’
‘Make sure you’re back well before dark.’ Atia had taken a few steps when she turned. ‘Actually, why don’t you take the new slave with you? Hanno, I think he’s called. While he’s working in the kitchen, he might as well learn about foraging and catching game.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ said Aurelia, her face lighting up. Despite the fact that Hanno now worked in the house, she had found there was still hardly ever a chance to speak to him.
‘Is it?’ asked Quintus, looking irritated. ‘He might run away.’
Atia laughed. ‘With the manacles he’s wearing? I don’t think so. Besides, you can both practise your Greek with him. You’ll all be learning something.’
‘Yes, Mother,’ Quintus muttered unenthusiastically.
With an absent smile, Atia left them to it.
Aurelia poked Quintus. ‘She didn’t suspect a thing!’
Quintus grimaced. ‘No, but we’ve got to take the Carthaginian with us.’
‘So what? He can carry the sack.’
‘I suppose,’ Quintus admitted. ‘Go and get him then. Let’s not hang around.’
A short time later, they were following one of the narrow tracks that led through the fields to the edge of the farm. Shuffling because of his manacles, a bemused Hanno took up the rear. Aurelia’s offer of a trip into the woods had come as a welcome surprise. Although his job in the kitchen kept him safe from Agesandros, Hanno had begun to miss being in the open air. He longed for the companionship of Galba, Cingetorix and the other Gauls too. Julius and the rest of the domestic slaves were pleasant, but they were soft, and did little but gossip with each other. He wouldn’t see the Gauls today, but Hanno liked the sound of picking mushrooms, an activity that was unknown in Carthage, and of hunting, something he enjoyed greatly. Today he would have no time to brood.
It was when the two young Romans stopped in a large clearing that Hanno started to feel suspicious. The mushrooms that Aurelia had shown him on the way up had grown in shady areas under fallen trees, and only a fool would lay a snare or try waiting for a deer in the middle of an open space.
Quintus stalked over. ‘Give me the sack,’ he ordered.
Hanno obeyed. A moment later, he was most surprised to see two wooden swords clattering on to the soft earth. Gods, but how long it had been since he’d held a weapon! He still hadn’t fully realised what was going on when Quintus tossed one of the gladii to Aurelia.
‘These hurt like Hades if you land a blow, but they’re not likely to spill your guts on the ground.’
Aurelia moved the blade to and fro once or twice. ‘It feels very unwieldy.’
‘It’s double the weight of a real sword, to build up your fitness.’ Quintus saw her frown. ‘We don’t have to do this.’
‘Yes, we do,’ she retorted. ‘Show me how to hold the damn thing properly.’
Smiling, Quintus obeyed, gripping her wrist to move it slowly through the air. ‘As you know, it was made to cut and thrust. But it can slash too, which is how we use it in the cavalry.’
‘Shouldn’t we have shields too?’
He laughed. ‘Of course. But I think Mother might have realised what we were up to. Give me a few days. I’ll take them up here on my own one evening, when she’s taking her bath.’
Quintus began to teach Aurelia how to thrust the gladius forward. ‘Keep your feet close together as you move. It’s important not to over-extend yourself.’
After a while, Hanno began to grow bored. He would have loved to take Aurelia’s place, but that wasn’t going to happen. He glanced at his nearly empty basket, and coughed to get the young Romans’ attention.
Quintus turned, a frown creasing his brow. ‘What?’
‘We didn’t find many mushrooms on the way here. Should I go and pick some more?’
Quintus nodded in surprise. ‘Very well. You’re not to go far. And don’t get any ideas about running away.’
Aurelia looked more grateful. ‘Thank you.’
Hanno left them to it. He cast about the edge of the clearing, but found no mushrooms. Unnoticed by Quintus and Aurelia, he moved off into the undergrowth. The sounds of their voices became muffled and then were lost. Sunlight pierced the dense canopy above, lighting up irregular patches of the forest floor. Nonetheless, the air felt heavy. Hanno’s presence made birds flit from branch to branch, sounding their alarm calls. Soon he felt as if he was the only person in the world. He felt free. Right on cue, the manacles around his ankles clanked, and reality struck. Hanno cursed. Even if he tried to run, he wouldn’t get far. The moment Agesandros was alerted, he’d get out the hunting dogs. They’d track him down in no time. And of course there was the debt he owed Quintus. Sighing, Hanno got back to his task.
His luck was in. A quarter of an hour later, he returned to the clearing with a full basket.
Aurelia saw him first. ‘Well done!’ she cried, rushing over. ‘Those slender mushrooms with the flat caps are delicious when fried. You’ll have to try some later.’
Hanno’s lips turned up. ‘Thank you.’
Quintus glanced at the basket, but didn’t comment. ‘Race you to the stream,’ he said to Aurelia. ‘We can cool off before going back.’
With a giggle, she took off towards the far side of the clearing, from where the babble of running water could be heard.
‘Hey!’ Quintus shouted. ‘That’s cheating!’ Aurelia didn’t reply, and he sprinted after her.
Hanno looked after them wistfully, remembering similar good times with Suniaton. An instant later, though, his gaze fell on the two wooden swords, which had been left on the ground nearby. Quintus’ bow and quiver lay alongside. Without thinking, Hanno walked over and picked up a gladius. As Aurelia had said, it was awkward to hold, but Hanno didn’t care. Gripping the hilt tightly, he thrust it to and fro. It was the most natural thing to imagine sticking it in Agesandros’ belly.
‘What are you doing?’
Hanno almost jumped out of his skin. He turned to find a dripping wet Quintus regarding him with extreme suspicion. ‘Nothing,’ he muttered.
‘Slaves aren’t allowed to use bladed weapons. Drop it!’
With great reluctance, Hanno let the gladius fall.
Quintus picked it up. ‘No doubt you were thinking about murdering us all in our beds,’ he said in a hard voice.
‘I’d never do that,’ Hanno protested. Agesandros is a different matter of course, he thought. ‘I owe you my life twice over. That’s something I will never forget.’
Quintus was nonplussed. ‘I only bought you in the first place because Agesandros didn’t want me to. As for when he was beating you, well, injuring a slave badly is a waste of money.’
‘That’s as maybe,’ Hanno muttered. ‘But if it weren’t for you, I’d surely be dead by now.’
Quintus shrugged. ‘Don’t pin your hopes on paying me back. There aren’t too many dangers around here!’ He pointed at his sack. ‘Pick that up. I’ve spotted a good place on the bank to set a snare.’
Stooping so that Quintus didn’t see his scowl, Hanno obeyed. Curse him and his arrogance, he thought. I should just run away. But hi
s pride wouldn’t let him. A debt was a debt.
Quintus and Aurelia managed to fit in three more trips to the clearing before Fabricius’ return a week later. Atia had been so pleased by the basket of mushrooms that Quintus insisted Hanno accompany him and his sister each time. Hanno was glad to obey. Aurelia was friendly, and Quintus’ manner towards him had changed fractionally. He wasn’t exactly warm, but his high-handed manner, which Hanno despised, was no longer so evident. Whether it was because he had revealed the debt that he owed to Quintus, Hanno could not tell.
Although Fabricius’ homecoming meant that the secret trips stopped, Hanno was pleased to learn that his master was soon to return to Rome. Eavesdropping as he served food to the family, Hanno heard how the debates in the Senate about Hannibal were constant now, with some factions favouring negotiations with Carthage and others demanding an immediate declaration of war. ‘There’s far more interest in that than the eligible daughter of a country noble,’ Fabricius revealed to Atia.
Aurelia was barely able to conceal her delight, but her mother pursed her lips. ‘Have you found no one suitable?’
‘I’ve found plenty,’ Fabricius replied reassuringly. ‘I just need more time, that’s all.’
‘I want to know the best candidates,’ said Atia. ‘I can write to those of their mothers who are living. Arrange a meeting.’
Fabricius nodded. ‘Good idea.’
Let it take for ever, Aurelia prayed. In the meantime, I can practise with Quintus. It had been a joy to discover that handling a sword came naturally to her. She burned to train further, while she still could.
Her brother’s reaction, however, was the opposite to hers. ‘How long will you be gone?’ he asked glumly.
‘I’m not sure. It could be weeks. I’ll definitely be back for Saturnalia.’
Quintus looked horrified. ‘That’s months away!’
‘It’s not the end of the world,’ said Fabricius, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘You’ll be starting your military training next spring anyway.’
Quintus was about to protest further but Atia intervened. ‘Your father’s business is far more important than your desire to train with a gladius. Be content that he is here now.’